Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka has become the first woman since Serena Williams to retain the US Open singles championship, overpowering Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in Saturday evening's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The world number one's triumph marks her fourth Grand Slam trophy and ends Williams's status as the sole back-to-back champion at Flushing Meadows since her 2012-2014 dominance.
Playing beneath the closed roof due to rain, the 27-year-old Belarusian required one hour and 34 minutes to dispatch the eighth-seeded American, who was competing in her second consecutive major final.
The championship match featured dramatic momentum swings, with Sabalenka nearly surrendering her advantage whilst serving for victory at 5-4 in the second set.
Aryna Sabalenka retained her US Open crown after overpowering Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3)
|REUTERS
A straightforward overhead smash sailed into the net at 30-30, offering Anisimova a lifeline which the American gratefully accepted to force a tiebreak.
Throughout the encounter, Anisimova repeatedly complained to officials about visibility issues caused by the stadium lighting, particularly affecting her ball toss during service games.
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The 24-year-old New Jersey native approached the chair umpire multiple times but received no remedy for her concerns.
Despite recording 22 winners to Sabalenka's 13, Anisimova's 29 unforced errors proved costly against the composed defending champion.
Amanda Anisimova was no match for Aryna Sabalenka's power
|REUTERS
The victory represents redemption for Sabalenka following a challenging Grand Slam campaign that saw her fall short in championship matches at both Melbourne Park and Roland Garros earlier this year.
She suffered defeat to Madison Keys in January's Australian Open final before Coco Gauff denied her at the French Open in June.
The Belarusian had also exited Wimbledon at the semi-final stage, losing to Anisimova in their previous encounter.
Saturday's triumph ensures Sabalenka avoided becoming the first woman since Justine Henin in 2006 to lose three major finals within a single season.
Her Grand Slam record now stands at 101 victories from 127 matches.
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Aryna Sabalenka has become the first woman since Serena Williams to retain the US Open singles championship
|REUTERS
Following her missed overhead, Sabalenka demonstrated remarkable composure to dominate the tiebreak 7-3, later revealing her mental approach: "I just let the doubt get into my head, but then I turned around and I took a deep breath in, and I was like, 'OK. It happens. It's in the past. Let's focus on the next one.'"
The Belarusian acknowledged learning from her previous disappointments: "After French Open, I figured that, OK, maybe it's time for me to sit back and to look at those finals and to maybe learn something, because I didn't want it to happen again and again and again."
Anisimova, who suffered a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon eight weeks earlier, praised her opponent: "You are so incredible.
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Amanda Anisimova was magnanimous in defeat and praised her opponent as 'incredible'
|REUTERS
"I'm in awe of what you've accomplished, and you keep on achieving so many incredible things."
The American later admitted: "I truly really admire her. She puts in a lot of work, and that's why she's where she is. I think I didn't fight hard enough for my dreams today."